American Express Canada offers the broadest premium business credit card lineup in Canada, with five dedicated business cards ranging from a no-fee entry option to the $799 Business Platinum. Amex business cards earn Membership Rewards (MR) or Aeroplan points and include comprehensive travel insurance and business tools.
Important: Amex cards are not accepted at all Canadian merchants — notably not at Costco. Visa and Mastercard have broader acceptance. Consider pairing an Amex business card with a no-fee Visa or Mastercard for merchants that don’t accept Amex.
Amex Business Credit Cards — Quick Comparison
| Card | Annual Fee | Top Earn Rate | Key Perk | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Business Platinum | $799 | 1.25 MR/$1 everywhere | $200 travel credit; Centurion Lounge | Highest spend; premium travel |
| Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve | $599 | 3 Aeroplan pts on Air Canada | Maple Leaf Lounge access | Air Canada flyers; Aeroplan |
| Amex Business Gold Rewards | $250 | 2 MR/$1 everywhere | MR transfers to Aeroplan | Diverse spending; MR earning |
| Amex Business Edge | $99 | 3 MR/$1 transit, gas, dining | Strong everyday categories | Commuting professionals |
| Amex Business Green Card | $0 | 1 MR/$1 everywhere | No-fee MR entry | Starting out; low spend |
Verify current earn rates and welcome offers at amex.ca before applying.
American Express Business Platinum Card
Annual fee: $799 | Network: Amex
The Amex Business Platinum is the flagship Canadian business charge card. It earns 1.25 MR points per dollar on all eligible purchases — a flat rate applied universally, making every purchase earn more than the Green Card’s 1x.
Key benefits:
- $200 Annual Travel Credit — applies against any travel charge billed to the card (flights, hotels, car rental)
- Centurion Lounge access — including Toronto Pearson and global Centurion locations
- Priority Pass Membership — access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide
- Comprehensive business travel insurance — emergency medical (up to $5M), trip cancellation, lost luggage
- Hotel status — complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold and Hilton Honors Gold
- The Hotel Collection — $100 hotel credit + room upgrade when booking 2+ nights
- Fine Hotels & Resorts — room upgrades, noon check-in, 4pm late checkout, breakfast
Note: The Business Platinum is a charge card — the balance must be paid in full each month on most charges (some purchases may qualify for Pay Over Time). It has no preset spending limit.
Best for: Businesses with $500,000+ annual spend, frequent international travel, and executives who value premium lounge access.
Annual value estimate (based on $10,000/month): 150,000 MR/yr + $200 travel credit = approximately $2,450 net value before fee, $1,651 net of $799 fee.
American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card
Annual fee: $599 | Network: Amex
The premier Aeroplan business card in Canada, earning 3 Aeroplan points per dollar on Air Canada purchases and 2 Aeroplan points per dollar on dining and transit. All other purchases earn 1 Aeroplan point per dollar.
Key benefits:
- Maple Leaf Lounge access — you and one guest on same-day Air Canada departures
- Priority boarding on Air Canada flights
- Aeroplan Status Qualifying Miles (SQM) accelerator — earn additional SQM toward Aeroplan Elite Status
- $100 NEXUS fee credit — covers application cost for US-Canada border expedited screening
- Comprehensive travel insurance — trip cancellation, emergency medical, car rental
Best for: Canadian businesses with significant Air Canada flight spending and executives pursuing Aeroplan Elite Status.
American Express Business Gold Rewards Card
Annual fee: $250 | Network: Amex
The Amex Business Gold Rewards Card earns 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar on all eligible purchases — a strong flat rate for businesses with diverse spending that don’t fit neatly into specific bonus categories.
Key benefits:
- MR Transfer Partners — transfer to Aeroplan, British Airways Avios, Cathay Asia Miles, and more at 1:1 (or better for some partners)
- Travel insurance — emergency medical, trip cancellation, car rental collision
- Year-end business summary — spend categorised by type for CRA reporting
- Employee supplementary cards — additional cardholders earn MR on business spending
2 MR = 2 Aeroplan (after 1:1 transfer) — meaning this card earns the equivalent of 2 Aeroplan per dollar on all business spending, competitive with the best mid-tier Aeroplan personal cards.
Best for: Businesses with $150,000–$400,000 in annual spending that want flexible MR points with Aeroplan transfer capability.
American Express Business Edge Card
Annual fee: $99 | Network: Amex
The Amex Business Edge earns 3 MR points per dollar on eligible transit (including Uber, taxi, public transit), gas, eating and drinking, and office supplies and electronics. All other eligible purchases earn 1 MR/$1.
Monthly spend breakdown (based on $5,000/month total):
- $1,500/month at transit, gas, dining at 3x = 4,500 MR/month
- $3,500/month at 1x = 3,500 MR/month
- Total: 8,000 MR/month = 96,000 MR/year
Transferring 96,000 MR to Aeroplan = 96,000 Aeroplan points = approximately $1,440 in short-haul economy redemptions, or $2,880+ in business class.
Best for: Self-employed professionals and small business owners who commute (Uber, transit, gas), dine with clients, and spend on tech and office supplies.
Amex Business Green Card
Annual fee: $0 | Network: Amex
The entry-level Amex business card earns 1 MR point per dollar on all eligible purchases with no annual fee. It is the best starting point for businesses new to Membership Rewards who want to accumulate MR without committing to a fee.
Best for: New businesses or low-spend operations that want access to MR transfers (including Aeroplan) without an annual fee.
Amex Membership Rewards for Business: The Key Advantage
MR points earned on Amex business cards transfer to the same pool as personal Amex MR points. This means:
- MR from your personal Amex Cobalt (5x dining/grocery) + MR from your Business Gold (2x everything) pool together
- Transfer the combined balance to Aeroplan for large award bookings
- Or transfer to British Airways Avios for Oneworld redemptions (Qatar, Cathay Pacific)
This “stacking” of personal and business MR balances is a major advantage unique to the Amex ecosystem in Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best Amex business credit card in Canada? For most Canadian small business owners, the Amex Business Edge ($99/yr) delivers the best earn-to-fee ratio — 3 MR on transit, gas, dining, and office supplies covers the most common freelance and small-business expense categories. For premium travel and the highest spend, the Business Platinum ($799/yr) earns back more than its fee for businesses spending $500K+/year. Verify current rates at amex.ca.
Is Amex accepted at major Canadian business merchants? Amex is accepted at most major Canadian retailers, restaurant chains, airlines, hotels, and online merchants. Key exceptions: Costco does not accept Amex (Mastercard only); some independent merchants and smaller retailers may not have Amex terminals. Always carry a Visa or Mastercard as a backup.
Can I earn both Amex MR and Aeroplan on the same purchase? No — each card earns in one programme only. However, you can transfer MR points to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio, effectively converting your MR balance into Aeroplan. The Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve earns Aeroplan directly (no transfer needed). See our Amex MR to Aeroplan transfer guide.